“As fiduciaries with a long-term view of capital appreciation that must meet the interests of multiple generations of beneficiaries, we have concluded that seeking, interpreting, and integrating such (environmental, social and governance) information into our investment decision-making process is becoming ever more necessary and prudent,” the letter said.

The appeal was coordinated by the Investor Network on Climate Risk, whose members include major public pension funds and which is directed by Ceres, a coalition of investors, and environmental and other public-interest groups working with companies to address environmental issues.